Clients should arrive into Puerto Natales by midday today. Trip briefing with guide at the BlueGreen Adventures office located at Eberhard 385 in the centre of town.

Once everybody is ready we will set off north of town along the waters of Last Hope Sound home to the native black necked swans as they bob their heads into the water looking for food.

Our destination is the Milodon Cave which contains a full sized replica of a giant sloth (made famous by Bruce Chatwin). Situated in a lovely forested area there are good walks in the area and a cafe to enjoy a snack or coffee. After our exploration of the cave and the surrounding area, we will hop in our van for the short drive north and the lovely comfortable Hosteria Tres Pasos that will be our home for the night.

This family-run hosteria and adjacent estancia is reminiscent of a country home with original wood floors, brightly coloured rooms and a fireside living room to relax. There is plenty of space for the kids to roam and lovely gardens to explore. The perfect introduction to Patagonia and a great place to unwind after the journey.

Dinner will be in the hotel's own restaurant which serves a variety of locally produced meat and salads. The kids can enjoy some wildlife spotting or and seek in the hotel's plentiful gardens.

Dinner included (wine/drinks available at extra cost).

After breakfast of home baked bread and cakes in the bright dining room, we will be driving north across the pampas to the granite peaks of the Paine Massif that seem to protrude from the flat pampas that surround them like the horns on a bull's head.

Our drive today takes us along the shores of the beautiful Lake Sarmiento where we will be getting out of the van to start our walk for the day.

Today's hike takes about 3 to 4 hours depending on pace and photo stops. It is short enough for the kids to tolerate on their first day's hiking and loaded with great scenery, interesting wildlife and (hopefully) fresh calafate berries to snack on en route.

This area is also home to large summer breeding groups of the llama-like guanaco with their cute, playful young known as chulengos never far from their side.  We continue on to the salt encrusted shores of Amarga Lake (bitter lake) with the magnificent Towers of Paine reflected in the surface of its waters.

After plenty of time taking photos and enjoying the lake shore here we will jump in the van for the short drive east to Estancia Tercera Barranca that will be our home for the next two nights.

This estancia offers an authentic home stay environment with a genuine warm welcome, comfortable living room with magnificent views and pretty, cosy rooms. There is literally acres of space to explore nearby and search for some of the local wildlife which includes skunks, armadillos, condors, Darwin's rhea, grey foxes and many other small mammals that live on these wide open pampas.

All meals included (wine/drinks available at extra cost).

Using the estancia as a base, today we can choose from a ride up to the pretty and rarely visited Zamora Falls or take a road trip across the Park visiting areas of interest and short hikes on the way.

The riding is suitable for beginners and could be a great opportunity to acquaint the kids with western riding. We offer comfortable saddles, reliable horses and expert instruction. Today's ride is a lovely, steady ride with great scenery and few other humans.

Alternatively, if you prefer to stay on two legs, we can drive out to Laguna Azul for a picnic on the sandy shores of this beautiful lake with fantastic views of the Towers behind.

We could then continue on with visits to two of the Park's very pretty waterfalls (both very accessible) and areas for good wildlife observations.

Return to our comfortable rooms at Estancia Tercera for dinner which (weather permitting) will consist of a traditional asado; a gaucho barbeque under the stars before turning in to our rooms for a silent and peaceful night's sleep

All meals included (wine/drinks available at extra cost).

After breakfast of home baked bread and cakes, we will transfer from Estancia Tercera to Laguna Verde situated on the southern perimeters of the Park. After a coffee in the lovely converted estancia house, we will pack our day packs with our picnic lunch and camera and start our stunning hike.

The trail takes us around the shores of the lake as we walk through ancient southern beech forests passing numerous lakes with dramatic mountain views at every turn. We will eventually reach the Sierra del Toro where we will ascend to the summit and admire the far reaching views of both the Torres del Paine and Bernardo O'Higgins National Parks.

After time enjoying the view, we will start the steep descent of the sierra (scree slope) to the flat plains below. We will picnic either at the look-out or in the valley below depending on weather. We will continue on to the park headquarters to see the Park relief map before meeting our driver who will take us to our next accommodation a few miles away.

We will be spending two nights in basic, but comfortable cabins located close to the Serrano River with magnificent views of the Paine Massif. Our cook will prepare snacks and dinner while we relax and explore our stunning location which include the abundant waters of the Serrano River.

*Option to camp for two nights at the nearby campsite if you prefer.

Chance for the kids to try fishing local style.

All meals included (including wine with dinner).

After breakfast, you can choose from fishing, hiking or joining the Grey II boat through the iceberg-choked waters of Grey Lake to the face of the vertical ice walls of Grey Glacier.

There are also lots of opportunities for wildlife spotting and short walks in the area so the day can be kept completely flexible depending on weather and energy levels.

Afternoon return to our comfortable accommodation at the Serrano River. Second night in our private cabin. *Or camping if you prefer.

All meals included (including wine with dinner).

After breakfast we will walk to the nearby river and board Zodiacs for our exciting down river journey through the pristine wilderness area known as Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. Great fun for both adults and children alike.

Where the river spills into the vast and mythical waters of Last Hope Sound, we will connect with a larger boat that whisks us across the fjords to the quayside in Puerto Natales.

The boat trip includes a chance to see the beautiful hanging Balmaceda Glacier and some fantastic wilderness scenery. We also get to enjoy a fantastic BBQ lunch at a waterside estancia en route.

On arrival in Puerto Natales, we will take a taxi to the cute and very pretty Hostal Amerindia with its adjacent cafeteria serving some of the most delicious sweets and pastries in the area! A real treat for the kids.

Dinner at leisure in town.

Breakfast and lunch included. Trip ends.